OSU trustees accept funds, approve university matters

COLUMBUS – Three new endowed chairs and an endowed professorship are among the funds established by The Ohio State University Board of Trustees at its meeting Friday (9/5). The board accepted 22 additional new named endowed funds established with gifts to the university from alumni, industry and friends in support of research, instructional activities and service.
Trustees also accepted 357 research grants and contracts totaling $43.1 million awarded to the university during June and 217 research grants and contracts totaling $16.6 million awarded during July.

In other business, the board approved a variety of personnel, fiscal and construction-related matters.

Named Endowed Chairs
• The Esther Dardinger Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology, $1,500,000, established by The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in memory of the late Esther Dardinger of Johnstown to support the salary and cancer research of a faculty member dedicated to research and treatment in the area of neuro-oncology.

• The Dardinger Family Endowed Chair in Oncolgical Neurology, $1,500,000, established by The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute in honor of the family of Esther and Robert Dardinger of Johnstown to support the salary and cancer research of a faculty neurosurgeon dedicated to research and treatment in the area of neuro-oncology.

• The Bert C. Wiley, M.D., Chair in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, $891,336, provided by gifts from an anonymous donor in honor of Bert C. Wiley, M.D., a 1943 graduate of The Ohio State University College of Medicine, to support a faculty chair position in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

Named endowed professorship
• David A. Rismiller Professorship in Management, $750,000, provided by gifts from David A. Rismiller (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1958) to support a professorship in the Fisher College of Business.

Named endowed funds
• The John M. Frank Distinguished Scholarship Fund, $1,150,000, provided by gifts from John M. Frank (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1962) to provide scholarships to qualified National Merit/National Achievement Scholars.

• The Laughlin-Craig Medical Scholarship Fund, $500,000, provided by gifts from Eleanor Laughlin Craig Bowsher (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1934) in honor of Curtis Laughlin (M.D., 1902) and William C. Craig (M.D., 1902) and William C. Craig (M.D., 1935) to fund scholarships for medical students in the College of Medicine and Public Health.

• The Jim and Karen Davidson Family Athletic Scholarship Fund, $100,000, provided by gifts from Jim (B.S.Bus.Adm., 1966) and Karen (B.S.Ed., 1965) Davidson of Dayton, along with their sons and daughters-in-law, Jim (B.S., 1988) and Wendy (B.S.Nurs., 1988) Davidson of Findlay; Jeff and Judi Davidson of Franklin, Mass.; and Doug and Jill Davidson of Beavercreek, to supplement the student-athlete grant-in-aid scholarship costs of an undergraduate varsity football team member.

• The Martha L. King Center Endowed Fund, $91,183, provided by a gift from Martha L. King (Ph.D., 1957) in recognition of her long and distinguished career as a professor in the College of Education, to support the activities of the Martha L. King Center in the College of Education.

• The Tressel Family Fund for Cancer Prevention Research, $62,064, provided by gifts from the Tressel family and the generous community in which they live, in memory of Elouise and Lee Tressel, to support cancer research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center - The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

• The Dr. R. Wayne and A. June Masters Electroscience Lab Fund, $50,000, provided by a gift from A. June Masters (B.A., 1940, B.S.Ed., 1940) and Dr. R. Wayne Masters (M.S., 1941) of Woodbridge, Va., to commemorate Dr. R. Wayne Masters and his desire to advance the Electroscience Laboratory and research in electromagnetics.

• The Barbara Wagner Genteline Endowment Fund for Cancer Research, $41,968, provided by a gift from Helen H. Wagner (B.S.Ed., 1937) to support research programs at the Comprehensive Cancer Center – The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

• The Dr. Robert H. Bremner Memorial Scholarship Fund, $36,790, provided by gifts from family, friends and colleagues of Professor Emeritus Robert Bremner (M.A., 1939; Ph.D., 1943) to support graduate student education in U.S. history in the Department of History.

• The Richard O. Hecker Football Scholarship Fund, $35,000, provided by a gift from Dr. Richard O. Hecker (D.D.S., 1957) of Columbia, S.C., to support scholarships for student-athletes on the varsity football team.

• The Juanita Kathryn Melsop Scholarship Fund, $30,000, provided by a gift from J. William (B.Arch., 1964) and Sandra Melsop of Pepper Pike for scholarship support of an undergraduate architecture student.

• Verlin W. and LaVerne Krill Scholarship Fund, $29,691, provided by gifts from the charitable trust of Verlin W. (B.M.E. 1933; M.S., 1934) and LaVerne Krill of Edgerton to support scholarships for undergraduate students majoring in mechanical engineering who are graduates of any public high school in Ohio.

• The Jean and Allen Patrick Family Endowment Fund for Cancer Research, $26,100, provided by a gift from Jean and Allen Patrick of Columbus to support cancer genetics research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center – The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

• Ann Hoying Ahrns and Thomas Ahrns 4-H Scholarship Fund, $25,177, provided by gifts from Ann Hoying Ahrns (B.S.Food Tech., 1984) and Thomas Ahrns (B.S.M.E., 1986) of Dublin to provide scholarships for students in the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

• The Michael D. Winfield Chemical Engineering Endowment Fund, $25,058, provided by a gift from Michael D. Winfield (B.Ch.E., 1962) and a gift in his honor from his employer UOP LLC of Des Plaines, Ill., to cover emerging priorities within the Department of Chemical Engineering.

• The Francis and Virginia Hazard Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from Dean F. Dominic Dottavio (B.S.Nat.Res., 1973) from the Marion Enrichment Fund and the Marion Campus Dean’s Fund to provide scholarships for qualified students attending OSU-Marion.

• The Ohio State University String Education Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from an annual OSU Midwest Summer String Teacher Conference to fund a scholarship to an undergraduate music education string major.

• The Keith and Brenda Carpenter Athletics Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Keith and Brenda Carpenter in honor of Elmer Carpenter and in memory of Janice Carpenter to supplement the student grant-in-aid scholarship costs of a student-athlete.

• The Kenneth and Robin Carpenter Athletics Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Kenneth and Robin Carpenter in honor of Elmer Carpenter and in memory of Janice Carpenter to supplement the student grant-in-aid scholarship costs of a student-athlete.

• The E. Ivor Jones Endowed Scholarship Fund, $25,000, provided by gifts from Ferne Jaynes Jones, family and friends in honor of E. Ivor Jones (B.S.Agr., 1951; M.S., 1960), Washington Court House Extension area supervisor, to support students in the Department of Human and Community Resource Development.

• The Beatrice I. and Alan R. Weiler Cancer Research Endowment Fund, $25,000, provided by a gift from Beatrice and Alan Weiler of Columbus to support human cancer genetics research at the Comprehensive Cancer Center – The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

• The Triplett-VanDoren No-Tillage Experimental Plots Endowment Fund, $15,251, provided by gifts from David VanDoren, OARDC professor from 1958 to 1985; Glover Triplett, OARDC professor from 1959 to 1982, and other supporters of no-tillage, to support activities at the long-term tillage and rotation plots at the Wooster, Northwestern and Western Branches of The Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center.

• Donald E. and Lillian Sims Scholarship Fund, $15,000, provided by gifts from Donald E. Sims and Dean F. Dominic Dottavio (B.S.Nat.Res., 1973) from the Marion Campus Enrichment fund to provide academic merit scholarships for undergraduates with preference for those from Marion County.

Change in description of named endowed chair
• The Julius F. Stone Chair in Cancer Research

• The Thomas and Evelyn Stephens Scholarship Fund in Special Education

Change in name of named endowed fund
• The James E. Pfeifer II K-L Row i-Dot Scholarship Fund is now the Pfeifer Family K-L Row i-Dot Scholarship Fund

Change in name and description of named endowed funds
• The Alumni Association Building Endowment Fund is now The Alumni Association Endowment Fund

• The Robert A. Barnes Award for Exemplary Teaching is now The Robert A. Barnes Award Fund for Exemplary Teaching

Personnel actions
• Evelyn B. Freeman has been named executive dean of the regional campuses in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Aug. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2006. She will hold a concurrent appointment as dean/director at OSU-Mansfield.

• Glen F. Hoffsis has been named to the Ruth Stanton Chair in Veterinary Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2005. He will hold a concurrent appointment as dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine.

• Christopher S. Kochanek has been named the Ohio Eminent Scholar in Cosmology and professor with tenure in the Department of Astronomy, effective Oct. 1, 2003. He is currently astrophysicist at the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory in Cambridge, Mass.

• Susan M. Kroll has been named associate vice president for health sciences (Center for Knowledge Management), effective Sept. 1, 2003. Prior to the appointment, she was director of Ohio State’s John A. Prior Health Sciences Library.

• Stanley A. Lemeshow has been named dean for public health in the School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Public Health, effective Aug. 9, 2003, through June 30, 2008. Prior to the appointment, he was professor in the Departments of Epidemiology and Statistics and director of the Center for Biostatistics.

• W. Jerry Mysiw has been named associate professor and holder of The Bert C. Wiley, M.D., Chair in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, effective Sept. 5, 2003, through June 30, 2007.

• Herbert B. Newton, has been named associate professor and holder of The Esther Dardinger Endowed Chair in Neuro-Oncology in the Comprehensive Cancer Center-Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute, effective Sept. 5, 2003, through June 30, 2007.

• Jeffrey B. Reeves has been named associate vice president for health sciences and chief organizational effectiveness and human resources officer for The Ohio State Medical Center, effective Aug. 1, 2003. Prior to the appointment, he was senior vice president and chief human resource officer at Sam’s Club in Bentonville, Ark.

• Judith B. Fountain has been reappointed director of The Women’s Place in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective July 1, 2003, through June 31, 2007. She holds a concurrent appointment as assistant vice provost for women’s policy initiatives.

• Martha M. Garland has been reappointed vice provost and dean for undergraduate studies in the Office of Academic Affairs, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through Aug. 31, 2008.

• Deborah Jones Merritt has been reappointed director of The John Glenn Institute for Public Service and Public Policy, effective July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007. She holds a concurrent appointment as professor and holder of The John Deaver Drinko – Baker & Hostetler Chair in Law in the Moritz College of Law.

• Hagop S. Mekhjian, M.D., has been appointed to the University Hospitals Board East as an ex-officio member in the capacity of chief medical officer of the OSU Health System, effective immediately.

• Clara D. Bloomfield, M.D., has been appointed a “Cancer Scholars” member of The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute for a term ending May 13, 2004.

• Umit S. Ozkan, associate dean for research and professor in the College of Engineering has been appointed to the Engineering Experiment Station Advisory Committee for a three-year term, effective Aug. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2006.

• Carolyn J. Merry has been appointed interim director of the Center for Mapping, effective July 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.

• Wolfgang Sadee has been appointed director of the School of Biomedical Sciences, effective Aug. 1, 2003, through July 31, 2005.

• Mellasenah Y. Morris has been named director of the School of Music, effective Aug. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007.

• Peter V. Paul has been named director of the School of Teaching and Learning, effective Aug. 1, 2003, through Sept. 30, 2007.

• Anthony P. Young has been named director of the Center for Molecular Neurobiology, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2007.

• John E. Morral has been appointed chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, effective Oct. 1, 2002, through Sept. 30, 2007.

• Richard M. Bednarski has been reappointed director of the Veterinary Hospital, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through June 30, 2004.

• Liang-Shih Fan has been reappointed chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, effective Sept. 1, 2003, through Dec. 31, 2003.

Emeritus titles
• J. Richard Sisson, senior vice president and provost and professor emeritus in the Office of Academic Affairs and Department of Political Science, effective Sept. 1, 2003

• Wayne L. Bacon, professor emeritus in the Department of Animal Sciences, effective Sept. 1, 2003

• Donald R. Houser, professor emeritus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective Sept. 1, 2003

• Carol W. Kennedy, professor emeritus in the College of Nursing, effective Sept. 1, 2003

• John P. Schoessler, professor emeritus in the College of Optometry, effective Jan. 1, 2004

• Stephen A. Sebo, professor emeritus in the Department of Electrical Engineering, effective Oct. 1, 2003

• Li-Sheng W. Fu, associate professor emeritus in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, effective Sept. 1, 2003

Resolutions in memoriam
• Don M. Hosier, professor emeritus in the Department of Pediatrics and former director of the Cardiac Laboratory and Clinic at Columbus Children’s Hospital, who died June 7, 2003

• William M. Johnson, assistant dean emeritus in the College of Veterinary Medicine, who died June 4, 2003

• Jeffrey L. Molyet, former member of The Ohio State University Mansfield Regional Campus Board of Trustees, who died July 1, 2003

• M. Louise Augenstein Moses, associate professor emeritus of The Ohio State University Extension, who died Aug. 4, 2003

• Ralf G. Rahwan, professor emeritus in the College of Pharmacy, Division of Pharmacology, who died June 5, 2003

• Trent W. Smith, professor emeritus in the Department of Otolaryngology, who died June 9, 2003

Construction projects authorized
The board authorized the university to enter into design contracts for the following:

• Construction of a one-story addition to Doan Hall to house a trash compactor and sterilizer. Conceptual project estimate is $400,000 to $500,000 with funding provided by University Hospitals.

• Improvement of street and sidewalk upgrades to improve traffic and pedestrian flow in the Neil Avenue Corridor and 12th Avenue area. Conceptual project estimate for the combined project is $2.5 million to $2.725 million with funding provided by House Bill 675 and future university bond proceeds.

• Replacement of the hot water heating loop and upgrade of 24 campus buildings to local heating hot water production. Conceptual project estimate is $2.5 million with funding provided by future university bond proceeds with debt service to be paid by an increase in the central utility charge paid by academic and support units.

• A feasibility study to determine the renovation and/or construction possibilities for the School of Music. The study is projected to cost $250,000 with funding provided by House Bill 675.

The board authorized the university to enter into construction contracts for the following:

• Rehabilitation of existing University Airport runways, taxiways and aprons. Total project cost for Phase I is expected to be $1.7 million with funding provided by an FAA grant and development funds from the College of Engineering.

• Renovation of the walkways and bridge in the area of Lincoln and Morrill Towers and the Drake Performance and Event Center. Construction document project cost is $435,000 with funding provided by House Bill 748 and 675.

• Replacement of windows in the Faculty Club. Construction document project cost is $241,042 with funding to be provided by donor gift monies.

• Installation of new turf at football practice field #4. Total project cost has increased from $540,000 to $595,177 due to tighter specifications required for turf quality with funding to be provided by the Department of Athletics.

• Replacement of boilers at the OARDC facilities in Wooster. Construction document project cost has increased from $1.32 million to $1.835 million due to escalation in material costs and the addition of one extra boiler to expand capacity. Funding will be provided by House Bills 640 and 675 and OARDC.

• Construction of a new facility for the Psychology Department. Construction document project cost is $35 million with funding provided by House Bills 640 and 675 and future capital appropriations.

Construction progress highlighted
Trustees heard a quarterly report from University Architect Jill Morelli on key capital projects, the first of a new series of reports to be presented to the Fiscal Affairs Committee. The report provides trustees with updates on construction-related details pertaining to budget, funding sources, timeline, programmatic information and other key issues, such as the impact on traffic of projects in various stages of design and construction. For completed projects, it provides a “lessons learned“ section that will be used to facilitate decision making on future projects. The projects reviewed, along with their status, were the Ohio Stadium renovation (closed out); Larkins Hall replacement (in construction); Biomedical Research Tower (in design); Thompson Library Renovation (emerging); and the Ross Heart Hospital (in construction).

Regional campus plans updated
Trustees heard an update on the implementation of recommendations made in August 2002 by the Presidential Commission on the Regional Campuses. W. Randy Smith, vice provost for curriculum and institutional relations and a member of the commission, told trustees that the regional campuses are increasing access to an Ohio State education through a “one university, many locations” approach. A task force is currently studying the enrollment potential of the campuses. New recruitment and marketing messages are in place. The Office of Academic Affairs is looking at the feasibility of expanding curricula to include a limited number of academic degree programs at the regional campuses. Plans for enhanced student services and new university residence halls are in progress.

Funding plan for University Development modified
The plan to support University Development fund-raising efforts without General Funds support that was put in place in July 2000 and revised in September 2002 has been slightly modified with trustees’ approval in order to protect and enhance the university’s ability to acquire private gift support. University Development efforts are supported by a mix of endowment earnings, short-term interest on non-endowment gifts and unrestricted gift income.

Cancer Hospital bylaws amended
Trustees approved an amendment to the bylaws of The Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute to include representation on the hospital’s board from the newly established Cancer Scholars Program, which was designed to help recruit and retain senior cancer investigators of international stature.

State senator honored at OARDC
Trustees approved the naming of a parcel of land at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) in Wooster in honor of Grace L. Drake, state senator of the 22nd Ohio District from 1983 to 2000 and a strong proponent of agricultural education and research. In naming the land the Grace L. Drake Agricultural Research, Educational and Extension Laboratory, the board waived the Administrative Code requirement that “buildings and structures shall not be named for any person who is an officer of employee of the university or the state of Ohio, but may be named for a person who has been retired or has otherwise left such a position for a minimum of three years.”

New Freshman Seminars outlined
The Ohio State Freshman Seminars, which will be launched in winter quarter 2004 as a two-year pilot program, are designed to enhance the undergraduate experience by bringing first-year students and faculty together in small group settings. Constructed by the Arts and Sciences Curriculum Committee, the seminars will be taught by tenured faculty members. During winter and spring quarters, the university will offer 40 interdisciplinary seminars, and up to 20 students can enroll in each one. The goal is to eventually provide research experience for one-third of all freshmen.

Student receives board recognition
Kenneth May Jr., who is pursuing a M.D./Ph.D. in the College of Medicine, is the recipient of the trustees’ Student Recognition Award. May, from Oakwood, Ohio, has earned an M.D./Ph.D. fellowship, a Distinguished University Fellowship and the Molecular Life Science Award. May took the Medical Licensing Exam to test his knowledge from the first two years of medical school, and scored in the top 1 percent of medical students nationwide. He is working on tumor immunology research, which will count toward his Ph.D. He is a member of the Pathology Honor Society, the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and the Association of Pathology Chairs.

Neurobiotechnology Center renamed
Trustees approved renaming the Neurobiotechnology Center as the Center for Molecular Neurobiology. The name change more accurately reflects the research conducted at the center and is intended to enhance its national and international visibility.

Bidding waivers approved
The board accepted the quarterly report on waivers of competitive bidding requirements. During the period of April through June 2003, the senior vice president for business and finance granted 98 waivers of competitive bidding requirements for annual purchases totaling approximately $20,161,100. During the same period, the vice president for health services granted 40 waivers for annual purchases totaling approximately $7,940,800. Waivers are granted in the case of an emergency, when a sufficient economic reason exists, or when the goods or services can be purchased from only a single source.

Additional funding approved for home health care
Trustees approved establishing a line of credit of up to $1 million to MedOhio Health, Inc., as additional funding for the continued implementation of the home health care program for patients served by The Ohio State University Health System. The Health System entered into an agreement with MedOhio Health in February 1995 to develop and operate the home health care program.